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$20m for drought-hit farmers

Drought-stricken farmers will get a $20 million support package from the Queensland government.

Two-thirds of the state is drought-declared, leaving many farmers in a precarious position.

Premier Campbell Newman says the package includes $13 million for the Drought Relief Assistance Scheme, $5 million for land rental rebates, and $2 million for community events, training and resources for local leaders.

‘‘The extreme dry conditions continue to spread and we are potentially facing a second failed wet season,’’ Mr Newman said in Longreach on Tuesday.

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AgForce general president Ian Burnett said the drought was one of the worst on record.

‘‘Assistance such as this is very much about helping our farmers through what is an extraordinarily challenging weather event and beyond a reasonable capacity to prepare for,’’ he said.

Earlier in the day, the government added the Longreach and Barcaldine regions to the list of drought-declared areas.

Twenty-six local government areas are now drought-declared, covering about 65 per cent of the state.

Barcaldine mayor Rob Chandler says many graziers are in real trouble.

‘‘There have been some very isolated falls of rain but this is one of the best droughts Mother Nature has put on, and there are some people in some real strife,’’ he told ABC radio.

‘‘Some places had only 50 millimetres for the full year last year, and when you’ve got an average rainfall of 19 inches, that’s way below par.’’

AAP

4 comments so far

I thought the LNP were opposed to corporate welfare, in fact welfare in general?

Commenter

Leonard

Location

Brisbane

Date and time

January 21, 2014, 1:04PM

Well you aren't going to be able to blame the previous Government for the current drought or can you? LOL

Commenter

Beastmode

Location

Brisbane

Date and time

January 21, 2014, 6:59PM

Saw this article on 7 news tonight.Not one word mentioned about climate change.Wonder what the Graziers are thinking about Tony Abbotts 'climate change crap' speech.

Commenter

Eddie

Location

Greenslopes

Date and time

January 21, 2014, 7:58PM

Global warming is likely to become a political burden for the taxpayer, there will come a time when no political party will subsidize cow growing in Australia, because horticulture will also require massive amounts of subsidizing due to temperature and weather impacts to productivity.

Nicholls is crying poor , but they can always manage to find a cheq for buying votes from the unsustainable cow growing lobby.